Daylight loading device for developer tanks



NOV. 8, 1938. HAGEN 2,135,618

DAYLIGHT LOADING DEVICE FOR DEVELOPER TANKS Filed April 5, "193? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Paul Hagen, lanes.

1 'Hargz zrez H gen, MIA/M470.

A TTORNE Y Nov. s, 1938. P. HAGEN 2,135,618

DAYLIGHT LOADING DEVICE FOR DEVELOPER TANKS Filed April 3, 1937 2 SheetsSheet 2 /o. 49 s 50 *46 5 47 -52 5/ 4 V: it sfims [0d f 25/24 9 (j) G E a .54

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n IO "b ffgfi D IN VENTOR h 877, DECEASE- Margaret Hagen, mum/1mm.

5 fig4, M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1938 uuirso STATES PATENT OFFICE DAYLIGHT LOADING DEVICE FOR DEVELOP- EB TANKS Paul Hagen, deceased, late of Brooklyn, N. Y., by irllaatrlglxaret Hagen, Brooklyn, N. Y, adminis- This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a developer tank for strips of film and has more particular reference to a daylight loading device therefor.

This invention relates to the type of developer tank illustrated and described in the co-pending application Serial No. 87,94! filed June 29th, 1936, and entitled Developer tank for strips of film".

The invention proposes the provision of a light-proof loading box arranged on the body of a developer tank having a movable film carrier, and an arrangement associated with the loading box for laying a film from a cartridge of film on .the carrier.

An important feature of the invention is that the film is laid on the carrier and not slid or forced thereon. The reason for engaging the film in this manner upon the carrier is that, even should the developer tank contain some of the developing liquid or be wet, it is possible to lay the film on the carrier. When the film is slid into position on the carrier it may be possible to place it in position if there is total dryness present. But should there be some fluid or moisture present the film will stick to the carrier and it will be virtually impossible to slide it along into proper position. It may be possible to slide or shift the film partially on the carrier, but soon the adhesive quality of the wet film will make itself manifest.

Still further the invention proposes to provide a shuttle for the cartridge of film, mounted within the loading box and a means for operating the shuttle to lay the film upon the carrier.

The invention further proposes the provision of means for cutting off the inner end of the film from the cartridge after the film has been laid upon the carrier.

Another one of the objects of this invention resides in the provision of a passage in the wall of the body between the light-proof leading box and the tank through which the film may be laid upon the carrier, and the provision of a shutter for closing said opening after the film is in position on the carrier.

Still further the invention proposes the provision of means operable from the exterior of the device by which the inner end of the film may be secured to the carrier prior to the time it is out free from the cartridge.

Another object of the invention is the construction of 'a device as described which is simple and durable and which may bemanufactured and sold at a reasonable cost, a

- For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof,'reference will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a developer tank constructed according to this invention.

Fig.2 is another perspective view viewing the tank from the left hand side.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front left hand portion of the film carrier shown in Fig. 4.

The daylight loading device is used in combination with a developer tank l for strips of film having a light-proof body housing a film carrier ll. A light-proof loading box compartment I2 is arranged on one side of the body and adapted to be opened. A shuttle l3 for a cartridge M of film I is mounted in the compartment l2 and upon the shuttle IS. A catch l6 (see Fig. 4)

-is mounted on the film carrier H and is cooperative with the outer end of the film l5 for holding the end on the carrier. A means is provided for operating the shuttle l3 to lay the film l5 upon the carrier II, aswill hereinafter be more fully described. a

The developer tank III has a cover portion Illa and a body portion 'lllb adapted to be engaged onewith the other. to keep out the light. The film carrier ll comprises a drum Ila upon which there is a helical track Mb. The drum Ila is rotativ'ely supported in the body portion Ill and has a projecting axial shaft ll upon which a pulley I8 is mounted by which the carrier may be rotated. The details of the carrier, the lightproof construction of the device, and other parts not essential to the complete understanding of the present invention will be omitted as they have been explained in the co-pending application previously identified.

The compartment I2 is formed by a box portion built on to the side of the tank. This box i3 to lay the film IS on the carrier H.

' portion consists of a bottom box section 100 secured upon the side of the body and cooperative with a covering section llld removably mounted upon the bottom box portion Hlc. There is an opening IS in the wall of the cover Illa of the tank, within the compartment l2, through which the film may be laid on the carrier. The cover Ifld has light-proof flanges 20 secured along its edge and engageable into the top edge of the box portion I00 for providing a light-proof container.

Along the top edge the box cover d has-an inturned flange portion [Odd (see Fig. 3) cooperative with an upturned flange portion lflaa along the edge portion of the cover iOa to form a lightproof junction. The box cover Hid may be removed for giving access to the shuttle I3 so that a cartridge of film to be developed may be placed on the shuttle.

The shuttle i3 is supported by several guide elements 2! which engage a bar 22 extending longitudinally through the compartment l2. This bar acts as a track for the shuttle to move on. The shuttle l3 has a side arm l3a to support one end of the cartridge [4 and an opposed side arm |3b to support the other end. This latter side arm is adjustably mounted by a screw 23 mounted on a base arm Be on the shuttle and engaging through a slot 23 in one end of the arm l3b. The screw 23 may be loosened to shift the arm [3b to remove or replace the cartridge of film H on the shuttle. The cartridge 14 is supported at an inclination so as to be at right angles to the projected inclination of the helix of the tracks Hb so that the film l 5 need not twist in engaging upon the tracks tlb.

The catch 26 may be of any design or construction. As shown, itcomprises a hook portion [8a which may be pierced through the end of the film i5 and an elastic band [61) by which the hook portion ifia is attached to the wall of the carrier ii.

A means is provided for operating the shuttle This means includes a finger 24 which is pivotally supported by a pintle 25 upon the arm l3a of the carrier. This finger may engage through the opening l9 and may engage against one side of the helical track Mb. The rod 22 has reduced end portions 22a and 2221 which engage through the end walls of the box body Inc to removably sup port the bar 22. A nut 26 is mounted upon the end 22a. A radial arm 21 is mounted on the end 22?). A holding screw 28 threadedly engages through the extremity of the arm 21 and is adapted to engage the side wall of the tank body Hlb to hold the rod 22 in various turned positions. It

is proposed that the screw 28 hold the rod as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the shuttle is ready to lay the film on the carrier. Or it is proposed that the screw 28 be loosened and the radial arm 21 be moved angularly to tilt the rod 22 as shown in the dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, and then the finger 24 is removed from the opening l9 which is then ready to be closed.

The shuttle l3 lays the film IS on the carrier when one is turning the carrier through the medium of the pulley l2 so that the film I5 is drawn out from the cartridge, and the shuttle I3 moves along the helical track lib. when the film has been completely laid on the carrier it is necessary that the inner end of the film be cut off from the cartridge, since film cartridges are usually constructed with the inner end of the film secured to the core of the cartridge. For the cutting purpose there is a blade construction operable from the outside of the device. This blade construction includes a razor blade 23 which is secured by several screws 30 upon the inner head end 3| of a flat bar 32 which extends out from a slot 33 in the end wall of the box bottom I00. A head 34 is mounted on the extended end of the bar 32 by which it may be manipulated.

A track 35 is mounted upon the outer face of the side wall of the tank body Mb which is within the compartment 12 for the purpose of guiding the blade 28. The dot and dash lines IS in Figs. 3 and 5 show the edge of the film l5. Since the I blade 29 is located immediately adjacent the wall of the tank body l0 which is within the compartment l2 when the rod 32 is forced inwards, the blade 29 will cut the film free from the cartridge. This is clearly shown in Fig. 5 where the line is shown crossing the blade 29, and obviously when the blade is moved it will cut the film.

Before the film is out free from the cartridge it is necessary that a portion thereof be held down on the film carrier. For this reason a holding device which is operable from the outside of the tank is provided. This holding device includes a lightproof nipple 36 mounted through the wall of the cover loa. A plunger 31 engages through the nipple 36. This plunger has a head 38 by which it may be moved. The inner end of the plunger 31 is provided with a socket 39. A spring or other resilient element 40 engages against the side of the socket and is mounted on the tank cover Illa for resiliently holding the plunger in its extended position. Normally, a clamp device is secured upon the socket 39. This clamp device comprises a pointed stud H. The rear end of the stud has a theaded section a which is threadedly connectedwith the socket 39. A resilient finger 42 is fixedly mounted intermediate the ends of the stud l I. This resilient finger is adapted to extend over a portion of the film on the carrier II. A rubber member 43 is attached upon the end of the finger and is adapted to engage a portion of the film on the carrier.

An arcuate track 44 is mounted on the end of the carrier II and is'heid spaced from the side wall of the carrier by several studs 45. This track 44 is of rubber or other friction material. The stud 1| is adapted to be forced in the space between the track 44 and the side wall of the carrier H, and then fixedly maintains its position. The track 44 is arranged'coaxial with the carrier ll so that the holding device may be engaged thereon at difi'erent positions depending on the length of the film which has been removed from the cartridge. The track 44 has an auxiliary base track portion a secured on the side of the carrier 44 and cooperative with the spaced track portion 44 so that the stud 4| may be forced between these parts. Preferably, the-stud ll has fiat sides and a pointed front so that it may be forced between the parts and frictionally securely maintain its position.

The opening I 9 may be closed when desired. There is a shutter 46 guided at its ends by tracks 41 which are mounted upon the front wall of the tank cover lid. The shutter 46 normally is disposed intimately against the inner face of the front wall of the tank cover I Ila. Near the two ends of the shutter 48 there are projecting lugs 48 which have slots 49. Pins 50 engage into these slots and are mounted on the ends of arms SI and 5| which extend rearwards and are mounted on rods 52 extending out through the end wall of the tank cover I la. The shutter ll is short on the left hand end relative to Fig. 4 to avoid striking the clamp device shown in Fig. 7. The arm is bent to reach the lug 48 on the shutter 41.

Knobs 53 are secured on the outer ends of the rods 52. The shutter 46 normally maintains the raised position by friction with the tracks 41. The knobs 53 may be turned to indirectly move the arms 5| and so lower the shutter 46 as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig.3. A strip of light-proof packing material 54 is secured along the bottom edge of the opening 18 against which the shutter 46 engages to produce a lightproof structure. g The tank In is provided with a capped opening 55 by which liquids may be poured into the tank. In the bottom of the tank there is a drain cock 56 by which they may be drawn oif. Black felt or other light proof material 51 is mounted on the side of the tank at the points where the rod 32 extends out, to guard against'the entrance of light. several inclined troughs 58 which will act to stir the liquid in the tank during the rotation of the carrier.

The operation of the device is as follows:-

The box cover Hid is opened. A cartridge of film i4 is mounted on'the carrier IS. The end of the film [5 from the cartridge is connected with the hook i611. The clamp device 42, 43, etc., is mounted upon the socket 39 as shown in Fig. 7. The rod 32 is extended as shown in Fig. 2. The finger 24 is engaged through the openings 19 against one side of the track lib on the carrier H. The cover Hid is then replaced. Thewheel i8 is now manually turned.

When the wheel i8 turns it will turn the carrier H and the film 15 will be drawn out of the cartridge and laid helically on the carrier. The finger 24 will follow the helix of the track lib and so the shuttle l3 will move along on the rod 22. When the film has been completely laid on the carrier, the carrier will be held against further turning as the inner end of the film is connected with the core of the cartridge 40.

The plunger 31 is then forced inwards against the holding action of the spring 40. The stud 4! will be forced in between the resilient tracks or rails 44 and 44a and the resilient head 43 will be forced against a portion of the film on the carrier as indicated in Fig. 4. The knob 38 is turned to disconnect the threaded connection between the socket 39 and the stud end 4la. plunger 3lis then pulled backwards to its original position leaving the film holding device on the carrier.

The rod 32 is then forced inwards so that the blade 29 cuts the end portion of the film completely from the cartridge. The screw 28 is then loosened and the radial arm 21 to turn the track 22 and so turn the shuttle B, so that the finger 24 is removed from the opening I! to the position shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 3.

.The knobs 53 are turned to move the shutter 46 down across the opening I9. This is merely a matter of precaution to further insure against light which may possibly enter the compartment 12 from reaching the film on the carrier, since it requires long periods of time to develop and fix supersensitive films. j

The carrier is then rotated and the film developed, fixed, etc., by various liquids poured into and drained from the tank as more fully described in the co-pending application previously I identified. When the film has been completely The carrier H is shown provided with,

The.

. 3 developed and fixed the tank cover I0 is opened and the film is removed and is'ready to be dried.

While the inventor has illustrated and described the invention with some degree of particularity, he realizes that in practice various a1- terations therein may be made. He therefore reserves the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by 'United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, 8. light proof holding box on said body and extending the length of said carrier and adapted to be opened, a shuttle for supporting a cartridge of film and movably mounted in said box to'move along the length of said carrier, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, and means for operating said shuttle to move along said carrier and lay said film on said carrier.

2. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, a light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a car- 3. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, a light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, and means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, comprising a controlling finger mounted upon the shuttle and engaging said film carrier.

4-. In combination with adeveloper tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, 8. light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said 'carrier, means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, means operable from the exterior of said developer tank for securing an inner end portion of the film on said carrier, and means for cutting off the end of the film from the cartridge.

5. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier,-a light proof holding box on said body adaptedto be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, means operable from the exterior of said developer tank for securing an inner end portion of .the film on said carrier, and means for cutting off the end of the film from the cartridge, said film carrier having a helical track upon which the filmis laid, and said means for operating the shuttle including a finger engaging said track for moving the shuttle along the track during the laying operation.

6. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, a light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, means operable from the exterior of said developer tank for securing an inner end portion of the film on said carrier, and means for cutting off the end of the film from the cartridge, said means for cutting 01! the end of the film comprising a stud extending into the tank and on its inner end supporting a blade adapted to cut the film when the rod is forced inwards.

7. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having alight proof body housing a film carrier, a light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, means operable from the exterior of said developer tank for securing an inner end portion of the film on said carrier, and means for cutting oil the end of the film from the cartridge, said means for securing the inner end of the film comprising a plunger extended to the exterior of the tank, a socket on the inner end of the plunger, a stud threadedly mounted upon said socket, a clamp for the film supported on said stud, a track mounted on said film carrier for receiving and holding said stud, and said plunger rotatable to disconnect the stud from the socket when the stud is mounted on said carrier.

8. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, a light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, means operable from the exterior of said developer tank for securing an inner end portion of the film on said carrier, and means for cutting 05 the end of the film from the cartridge, the wall between said tank and said loading box being provided with an opening", said film being laid on the carrier through said opening, and a shutter for closing said opening.

9. In combination with a developer tank for strips of film having a light proof body housing a film carrier, a light proof holding box on said body adapted to be opened, a shuttle for a cartridge of film and mounted in said box, a catch for holding the outer end of said film on said carrier, means for operating said shuttle to lay said film on said carrier, means operable from the exterior of said developer tank for securing an inner end portion of the film on said carrier, and means for cutting off the end of the film from the cartridge, the wall between said tank and said loading box being provided with an opening, said film being laid on the carrier through said opening, and a shutter for closing said opening, comprising a shuttle element slidably supported to extend over the opening, pivotally mounted arms connected with said shutter and supported on rods extending through walls of said tank, and knobs upon the ends of the rods by which they may be turned to move the shutter.

MARGARET HAGEN, Administratfi: of the Estate of Paul Hagen, De-

ceased. 

